Man Jailed For Brighton Tesco Knife Robbery

A man who threatened a security guard with a knife during a robbery at a Brighton convenience store has been jailed for four years.

Daniel Bowler, 38, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 9 June after admitting robbery and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

The incident happened at Tesco Express in Jubilee Street at around 10.25pm on 14 March.

Police were called after a man attempted to leave the store without paying for a basket of alcohol. When challenged by a security guard, Bowler threatened violence and produced a knife.

The security guard managed to force him out of the store, recovering a number of the stolen bottles before securing the premises. Staff and customers remained inside until officers arrived.

Following enquiries, Bowler was identified and arrested on 21 March. He was charged the following day and remanded into custody.

Although he initially denied the offences, Bowler later changed his plea and admitted both charges at Lewes Crown Court.

In addition to the four-year prison sentence, he was ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.

Detective Police Constable Marlena Duleba-Dowsett said the sentence demonstrated that theft and violence against businesses would not be tolerated.